The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a 947-page
guide to ailments of the mind. Published on May 22nd by the American
Psychiatric Association (APA), it lists specific symptoms to be
attributed to this disorder or that. The DSM is hugely influential. Its
categories guide research and treatment for millions of patients in
America and elsewhere. Crucially, it also propels the psychiatry
industry—if a disorder is included in the DSM, insurers are more likely
to pay for it.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a 947-page
guide to ailments of the mind. Published on May 22nd by the American
Psychiatric Association (APA), it lists specific symptoms to be
attributed to this disorder or that. The DSM is hugely influential. Its
categories guide research and treatment for millions of patients in
America and elsewhere. Crucially, it also propels the psychiatry
industry—if a disorder is included in the DSM, insurers are more likely
to pay for it.